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Captain
SIDNEY ALFRED MAWSON
South Wales Borderers
(formerly 21129 Sapper, Royal Engineers) 

by 

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Edward De Santis, MSCE, BSAE, P.E., MinstRE
(March 2025) 

 1.  INTRODUCTION 

             This is an account of the life and military service of a man who earned the Captain A.E. Haynes Medallion for Field Fortifications in 1911 while undergoing recruit training at the School of Military Engineering (SME).  While researching his life it was found that his brother was killed in action in the Great War of 1914-1918 while serving in France with a battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment.  It was also found that his son served in the Royal Corps of Signals during the period of the Korean War and World War 2.  

2.  FAMILY INFORMATION AND EARLY LIFE

Family Information

            Sidney Alfred Mawson was the son of Richard Gibson Mawson (1845-1928), a gamekeeper, and Ann Mawson, née Payne (1844-1915).  In addition to Sidney, the Mawsons had six other children, four boys and two girls: William Edward (1869-1956), Arthur Ernest (1878-1955), Percy Henry (1879-1916), Walter George (1884-1965), Florence (1876-1961) and Rosetta (1882-1963).[1] 

Early Life

            Sidney Alfred Mawson was born Bromfield, Shropshire on 2 October 1887.  The 1891 Census of England indicates that the Mawson family was living in Bromfield as shown in the table below. 

Table 1. 1891 Census of England.

 In 1901 the family was still residing in Bromfield, but at a different address.

Table 2. 1901 Census of England.

3.  ENLISTMENT AND TRAINING 

Enlistment 

            Based on the 1911 Census of England, which shows Sidney Alfred Mawson as a Sapper living in Brompton Barracks in Chatham, Kent, it is likely that he was a recruit in training at the time of the census that was taken on 2 April 1911.  The 1917 Army List indicates that he had served three years in the ranks before going to France in 1914; hence, his date of enlistment must have been in early 1911.  Based on a study by Stuart Gase of regimental numbers issued to soldiers during this period, Mawson’s regimental number corresponds to an enlistment date in February 1911.  At the time of his enlistment he became 21129 Sapper S.A. Mawson.  His trade is listed in the census as Draughtsman (Architectural).  This is the first indication that he had the talent to eventually become a Chartered Architect.  

Training 

Following the administrative actions involved with his enlistment Mawson had been sent off for his recruit training to the School of Military Engineering as indicated above.  With the exception of Drivers, every recruit enlisted for the Royal Engineers had to have a trade.  Pioneers and Sappers were sent to Chatham where they were trained in infantry drill and pioneer duties.  The engineer recruits also received musketry training.  When the course of training was completed the recruits had to pass an examination and were then transferred to engineer formations, where they received higher pay and could earn extra allowances by working at their special trades.  This training period lasted for about 24 months.  While he was at Chatham, Mawson excelled in Field Fortifications work.  As a result he was awarded the Haynes Medallion for Field Fortifications.  Mawson’s medallion is named on the rim with his regimental number, rank, name and the date 1911.

Figure 3.  The Captain A.E. Haynes, R.E Medalion (obverse and reverse).

(Image from the author’s collection)

4.  POSTINGS AND CAMPAIGN SERVICE

            On 15 February 1914 Mawson was posted to the Army Reserve,[4] probably having fulfilled his active service as required by his short service enlistment.  His status in the Army Reserve would last a very short time, as war with Germany was clearly on the horizon.  Sapper Mawson was called up from the Reserve shortly after war was declared as was posted to the 5^th Field Company, Royal Engineers with the 2^nd Division.[5]  Little did he know at this time that he would spend more than four and a half years in France in some of the fiercest fighting of the war. 

            The other units of the Royal Engineers that were serving or that would serve with the 2^nd Division consisted of the following:[6] 

 France and Flanders (1914-1919) 

With the 5^th Field Company, R.E. (1914-1916) 

            Mawson deployed to France with the 5^th Field Company on 15 August 1914 and by 20 August the unit was near Rouen.  From 23 to 24 August the company was in action during the battle of Mons and on 25 August it was at Landrecies.  By 1 September Mawson and the company were at Villers Cotterets in preparation for a long series of battles that would carry them in the spring of 1915.  These battles included the following:[7] 

The Battle of the Marne:                  7-10 September 1914 

The Battle of the Aisne:                    12-15 September 1914, including the Passage of the River Aisne on 13 September.  

NOTE: For some of the actions listed below the fatal casualties suffered by the 5^th Field Company have been extracted from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission files.  

Killed in Action[8]

1527 CQMS Charles Thomas Chesterton (14-9-1914)

13692 Driver F. Hopkins (15-9-1914) 

The Action at Aisne Heights:           20 September 1914 

The Battle of Ypres:                         19 October 1914 (opening day of the battle) 

The Battle of Langemarck:              21-24 October 1914 

Killed in Action

17314 Sapper George Archibald Harper (21-10-1914) 

The Battle of Gheluvelt:                   29-31 October 1914 

Killed in Action

Captain John Kearsley Dawson-Scott (29-10-1914) 

The Battle of Nonne Boschen:         11 November 1914

This was the worst single day of the war for the 5^th Field Company! 

Killed in Action

Major Alfred Herbert Tyler (11-11-1914).

Captain Arthur Edward Jeune Collins (11-11-1914)

17219 Lance Corporal William H. Hickingbotham (11-11-1914)

12309 Sapper John Henry Cunningham (11-11-1914)

22810 Sapper Percy Blackman (11-11-1914)

21762 Sapper Norman Harrop Fish (11-11-1914)

14563 Sapper Percival Victor Stone (11-11-1914)

23483 Sapper Manfred Herbert Morley (11-11-1914)

24320 Pioneer Henry Arthur Brown (11-11-1914) 

            From 1 to 5 February the 5^th Field Company was at Cuinchy in preparation for the division going into winter quarters.  Things remained relatively quiet for Mawson and his company until May 1915 when it saw action in two major battles: 

The Battle of Aubers:                                   9 May 1915  

The Battle of Festubert:                               15-25 May 1915  

Killed in Action

19135 Corporal George Horton (16-5-1915)

25758 Sapper James Edward Crowe (16-5-1915)

24478 Pioneer William Henry Bissett (16-5-1915)

13093 Sapper W.J. Fleming (22-5-1915) 

            On 30 July 1915 Sidney’s brother, 12026 Sergeant Percy Henry Mawson departed for France with his unit, the 6^th (Service) Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment.  The battalion departed from Ludgershall, Wiltshire and embarked on the S.S. Empress Queen at Southampton, landing at Le Havre on the following day.  The battalion had been formed at Bedford in August 1914 as part of Kitchener’s (K1) New Army[9] and had been attached as part of the divisional troops of the 9^th (Scottish) Division.[10] 

            Sidney Mawson’s company would take part in the following major actions in 1915 before the year came to an end. 

The Battle of Loos:[11]                                    25 September – 5 October 1915 

Killed in Action

            26768 Sapper George Eversham Durose (28-9-1915)

            33498 Sapper Frederick C. Dashper (30-9-1915)

15481 Sapper Frank Charles Whettam (4-10-1915) 

The Battle of the Hohenzollern Redoubt:[12]                       13-19 October 1915           

Died of Wounds

            22210 Sapper W.W. Watts (20-10-1915)

            Sergeant Percy Henry Mawson was killed in action on 4 May 1916 and was buried in the Bienvillers Military Cemetery, Section IV, Plot B, Grave 1.  As his mother, Ann Mawson, had passed away in 1915, she was not alive to suffer the death of her son.  More details of Percy’s service will be provided in Section 10 below.

            The 5^th Field Company took part in the Battle of the Somme between 15 July and 3 September 1916.  Fortunately for the men of the company, it was not involved in that horrendous day of 1 July 1916 when the British forces suffered an enormous number of casualties.  The company did see action in the follow-on battles of the Somme campaign, to include:

The Battle of Delville Wood:[13]                                25 July – 9 August 1916

The Attack on Waterlot Farm at Guillemont:[14]    8-9 August 1916

Killed in Action

22885 Corporal Richard Thomas Knight (6-8-1916) 

Capture and Consolidation of Delville Wood:[15]    27-28 August 1916

            During the period that Mawson served in the 5^th Field Company, the unit suffered 62 fatal casualties, broken down by rank as follows:

            Majors                         2

            Captains                      3

            Lieutenants                 2

            2^nd Lieutenants            1          Officers: 8 (12.7%)

            Company QMS           1

            Sergeants                     2          Senior NCOs: 3 (4.8%)

            Corporals                     3

            2^nd Corporals               1

            Lance Corporals          4          Junior NCOs: 8 (12.7%)

            Sappers                        37        Sappers: 37 (58.7%)

            Pioneers                       3

            Drivers                                    5          Pioneers and Drivers 8 (12.7%)

            See Annex A for the full list of casualties during the period that Mawson served in the 5^th Field Company.

With the South Wales Borderers (1916-1919)

            Although no information was uncovered during this research to indicate that Sidney Alfred Mawson received any promotions above the rank of Sapper, it must be assumed that he did so.  His performance of duty with the 5^th Field Company must have been impressive, as he was selected to receive a commission from the ranks.  On 13 November 1916, the opening day of the Battle of Ancre, Mawson was discharged from the Royal Engineers and on the following day he was commissioned a 2^nd Lieutenant in the South Wales Borderers (SWB).[16]  Upon his commissioning he was posted to the 5^th Battalion (Pioneers) of the regiment.  This battalion had been raided in Brecon in South Wales in 1914 as part of Kitchener’s New Army (K2).  The battalion was assigned to the 58^th Brigade of the 19^th (Western) Division in December 1914 and was converted to a Pioneer Battalion and assigned was part of Divisional Troops in February 1915.  No reference could be found to indicate the assignment that Mawson received when he joined the battalion.  He may have been a company officer or he may have filled a position on the battalion staff.

Pioneer Battalions were essentially infantry with light military combat engineer skills and equipment,  located at the very forward edge of the battle area.  They were used to develop and enhance protection and mobility for supported troops and to deny it to the enemy.  They constructed defensive positions, command posts and dugouts, prepared barbed wire defences and on occasion breached those of the enemy using devices like the Bangalore Torpedo.  Their skills and capability were broad from building, construction and maintenance to road and track preparation and maintenance. They could also, and did quite often, fight as infantry.

            Pioneer Battalions were used on a large scale on the Western Front. Because of its largely static nature, there was a much heavier reliance on field defences and the provision of mobility support to get troops, weapons, ammunition, rations and stores up to the front and casualties out.  Roads and railways needed to be built maintained and repaired.  While these were also engineer tasks, engineers alone could not meet the heavy demand, while riflemen were always needed at the front. Therefore, Pioneer Battalions were raised to meet the needs of both and trained to support both engineers and infantry.

            Sidney Mawson had three years in the ranks when he was commissioned as an officer in the South Wales Borderers.  He had been an Architectural Draughtsman when he enlisted and he had gained much experience while serving in the field with the 5^th Field Company.  He had served in 14 major actions.  Given the types of missions performed by Divisional Pioneer Battalions, as described above, and the experience that Mawson had gained in the Royal Engineers, he appeared to be a perfect fit to serve in the 5^th (Pioneer) Battalion of the SWB. 

 
Figure 4.  St. Michael and All Angels Parish in Bournemouth, Hampshire.
(Image courtesy of Wikipedia)

           On 14 April 1917 Sidney Alfred Mawson married Jenny Raybould in St. Michael and All Angels Parish in Bournemouth, Hampshire.[17]  Given his length of service in France throughout some of the toughest battle of the war, he certainly was due for some home leave.  While on this leave he took the opportunity to get married.  Sidney and Jenny listed their residence as Pinehurst, West Cliff Gardens, Bournemouth on their marriage certificate.

On 7 May 1917 Mawson was appointed a Temporary Lieutenant in the 5^th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers.[18]  Presumably he had returned to the front by this time.  His division, and most likely his battalion, became involved in the following major actions during 1917 and 1918.[19]  The fatalities suffered by the battalion are shown for each of the major actions in which the unit was involved during the time that Mawson was serving in it.

The Battle of Messines:                                 7-14 June 1917

The 19^th Division formed part of IX Corps in the British Second Army during this battle.  On the left of IX Corps, the 19th Division, north of the Vierstraat–Wytschaete road, attacked with two brigades into the remains of Grand Bois and Bois Quarante.  The reserve brigade of the 19th Division took the area from Wytschaete village to Oosttaverne Wood with little resistance.  The 5^th Battalion, South Wales Borderers lost nine men killed during the battle.

Killed in Action

19444 Lance Corporal J. Poole (7-6-1917)

25718 Private Wilfred Cooper (7-6-1917)

27544 Private Hugh William Jones (7-6-1917)

29616 Private W.O. Thomas (7-6-1917)

19051 Private Edward Woolgar (7-6-1917)

29043 Private Henry Idris Thomas (7-6-1917)

17637 Private G. Pryce (7-6-1917)

39875 Private G.R. Davies (11-6-1917)

39340 Private Edward Molloy (14-6-1917)

The Battle of Menin Road:                          20-25 September 1917

The 19th (Western) Division in IX Corps covered the southern defensive flank of the attack front, against the German 9th Reserve and 207th divisions, on a 1,600 yard front, from the Comines canal to Groenenburg Farm, on the west slope of the Bassevillebeek valley. The six attacking battalions of the 58th Brigade on the right and the 57th Brigade on the left and their supporting battalions had a difficult approach. The 58th Brigade had to pass through obstructions in Opaque Wood and Imperfect Copse and then at midnight it began to rain until 5:00 a.m.  The 5^th Battalion, South Wales Borderers lost two men killed in action during this battle

Killed in Action

18963 Private J.T. Buckley (20-9-1917)

17652 Lance Corporal Charles Henry Stringer (23-9-1917)

The Battle of Polygon Wood:                       26 September – 3 October 1917

            During this battle the 19^th (Western) Division in IX Corps provided flanking artillery fire, machine-gun fire and a smoke screen for the 39^th Division, keeping a very thinly occupied front line, which received much German retaliatory artillery fire at first, which fell on unoccupied ground, then diminished and became inaccurate during the day.  This limited action caused the 5^th Battalion, South Wales Borderers to lose only three men during the battle.

Killed in Action (3)

40964 Private P. Holden (27-9-1917)

21517 Private Andrew Hinds (2-10-1917)

29351 Private William Valentine Morgan (2-10-1917)

The Battle of Broodseinde:                          4 October 1917

            In IX Corps sector the 37th Division attacked with two brigades, with the 19th Division on the right co-operating with an artillery and machine-gun barrage and a smoke screen.  This limited involvement in the battle resulted in no losses to the 5^th Battalion, South Wales Borderers.

The Battle of Poelcappelle:                           9 October 1917

            The 5^th Battalion, South Wales Borderers played a limited part in this battle.

The First Battle of Passchendaele:              12 October 1917

            The 5^th Battalion, South Wales Borderers played a limited part in this battle.

Died of Wounds (3)[20]

45251 Private E.J. Mepham (13-10-1917)

41014 Private L.H. Martin (14-10-1917)

260133 Private J.R. Hughes (16-10-1917)

The Second Battle of Passchendaele:          26 October – 10 November 1917

The 5^th Battalion, South Wales Borderers played a limited part in this battle.

Killed in Action (2)

5/14739 Private Gwilym Lewis (26-10-1917)

14834 Private T. Fry (27-10-1917)

The Battle of St. Quentin:                            21-23 March 1918

The 5^th Battalion, South Wales Borderers played a limited part in this battle.

Killed in Action (1)

19370 Private R.J. Everett (22-3-1918)

The Battle of Bapaume:                               24-25 March 1918

This was the second most costly action of the war for the battalion, with the unit losing a total of 46 men killed in action or died of wounds.  The 5^th Battalion, South Wales Borderers was heavily engaged in this battle, probably more in an infantry role than as a Pioneer Battalion.

Killed in Action (39)

17639 Corporal James William Johnson (24-3-1918)

39229 Lance Corporal Ivor Watkins (24-3-1918)

14600 Lance Corporal William Morgan Graves (24-3-1918)

48771 Private L. Thompson (24-3-1918)

42467 Private A. Read (24-3-1918)

40971 Private Clifford Stanley Owlett (24-3-1918)

39384 Private W.J. Strode (24-3-1918)

18195 Private Harry Rees (24-3-1918)

42499 Private William George Fletcher (24-3-1918)

42479 Private Albert Ernest Tizzard (24-3-1918)

42521 Private G.T. Cordwell (24-3-1918)

18069 Private J. Smith (24-3-1918)

23418 Private William Onions (24-3-1918)

39799 Private Thomas Hand (24-3-1918)

15222 Private Robert William Willliams (24-3-1918)

22449 Private Arthur Llewellyn Carey (24-3-1918)

46343 Private Stanley Dewhirst (24-3-1918)

17959 Private Percy Gunn (24-3-1918)

35560 Private Herbert Alfred Notcutt (24-3-1918)

39871 Private Thomas John Blackmore (24-3-1918)

39344 Private Arthur Owens (24-3-1918)

18100 Private Thomas Price (24-3-1918)

14339 Private Levi John Reece (24-3-1918)

22795 Private Edward Smith (24-3-1918)

21830 Corporal William Edward Pearce (25-3-1918)

40834 Lance Corporal F.A. Huss (25-3-1918)

14864 Lance Corporal William Winch (25-3-1918)

39302 Lance Corporal Simon Jones (25-3-1918)

18121 Private Lawrence McNamee (25-3-1918)

13836 Private John O’Connor (25-3-1918)

34660 Private William Charles Cotterill (25-3-1918)

48778 Private Roland John Hampden Weaver (25-3-1918)

42492 Private George Swaffield Dennis (25-3-1918)

21355 Private J. Evans (25-3-1918)

17680 Private Richard Barrett (25-3-1918)

42515 Private Herbert Joseph Brown (25-3-1918)

39835 Private Albert Bull (25-3-1918)

26409 Private Arthur John Smith (25-3-1918)

227170 Private James Whalley (25-3-1918)

Died of Wounds (7)

Lieutenant Alexander Holland Moore (26-3-1918)

42368 Private E.T. Haywood (26-3-1918)

27553 Private T. Cotton (26-3-1918)

14225 Corporal T. Harris (27-3-1918)

18051 Private Albert Langley (27-3-1918)

33662 Private S. Barlow (27-3-1918)

42469 Private A.E. Rock (27-3-1918)

The Battle of Messines:                                 10-11 April 1918

This was the costliest battle of the war for the battalion, losing a total of 49 men killed in action or died of wounds.  On 10 April, German Fourth Army attacked north of Armentières with four divisions, against the British 19th Division. The 5^th Battalion, South Wales Borderers was heavily engaged in this battle, more in an infantry defensive role than as a Pioneer Battalion.

Killed in Action (39)

Lieutenant Ivor Dryhurst Jones (10-4-1918)

14412 Sergeant Charles Trehearne (10-4-1918)

14429 Lance Sergeant Walter Rosser (10-4-1918)

41518 Private H. Connor (10-4-1918)

21518 Private Alfred William Cook (10-4-1918)

42519 Private Frank Cruttenden (10-4-1918)

41610 Private John William Rothwell (10-4-1918)

14320 Private Albert Seager, M.M. (10-4-1918)

13930 Private Richard James Hogarth (10-4-1918)

18966 Sergeant Joseph George Francis Richards, M.M. (11-4-1918)

28262 Corporal Jacob Evans (11-4-1918)

21861 Corporal William Albert Marchant (11-4-1918)

19478 Lance Corporal Charles William Hart (11-4-1918)

42489 Private Sidney Zensz (11-4-1918)

41519 Private Arthur Edward Carruthers (11-4-1918)

41641 Private A.C. Vahey (11-4-1918)

18266 Private Henry William Fuller (11-4-1918)

14479 Private Ernest Newton Cole (11-4-1918)

39392 Private Charles Tyler (11-4-1918)

42166 Private Alfred Edwin Cooke (11-4-1918)

46483 Private John Thomas Wallwork (11-4-1918)

12068 Private George Thomas (11-4-1918)

38644 Private James Broadbent (11-4-1918)

38769 Private William Bird (11-4-1918)

40981 Private William Henry Andrews (11-4-1918)

18162 Private William Ansell (11-4-1918)

39859 Private James McNelis (11-4-1918)

42441 Private Walter Heal (11-4-1918)

14309 Private Charles Walter Lewis (11-4-1918)

41536 Private Robert Griffiths (11-4-1918)

17950 Private William Cheeseman (11-4-1918)

21130 Private James Carpenter (11-4-1918)

42150 Private John William Edmonds (11-4-1918)

22443 Private Levi Stanley Owen (11-4-1918)

17939 Private Thomas Jones (11-4-1918)

36155 Private Alfred Clarke (11-4-1918)

44403 Private Job Westwood (11-4-1918)

39452 Private George Walters (11-4-1918)

18017 Private William Sidney Lewis (11-4-1918)

Died of Wounds (10)

14854 Sergeant E. Edwards (12-4-1918)

14139 Private R.F. Davies (12-4-1918)

41642 Private George Frederick Veness (12-4-1918)

41620 Private William James Smith (12-4-1918)

39337 Private Charles Morgan (12-4-1918)

41578 Private William Patrick Lee (12-4-1918)

41545 Private Edward Hammersley (12-4-1918)

41605 Private William Harold Perkins (12-4-1918)

18004 Private Joseph Edwards (12-4-1918)

14892 Private John Sullivan (12-4-1918)

The Battle of Bailleul:                                   13-15 April 1918

A continuation of the action at Messines.  The 5^th Battalion, South Wales Borderers was heavily engaged in this battle, more in an infantry defensive role than as a Pioneer Battalion.

Killed in Action (20)

13890 Sergeant Alfred William Grimes (13-4-1918)

41657 Lance Corporal Stanley Dyson Bryon (13-4-1918)

41631 Private Ivor Glyn Thomas (13-4-1918)

29792 Private J.A. Lewis (13-4-1918)

260030 Private Harry Cooper (13-4-1918)

13874 Private Charles George Powell (13-4-1918)

41583 Private David Roland Morris (13-4-1918)

41585 Private John William McCoy (13-4-1918)

41644 Private Reginald William Whittall (13-4-1918)

41573 Private Ivor Lane (13-4-1918)

38681 Private Gilbert Turner Ingham (13-4-1918)

13904 Corporal Albert Frederick Nicholas (14-4-1918)

20925 Private W.R. Edwards (14-4-1918)

39418 Private James Thomas Jones (14-4-1918)

39886 Private James Barber (14-4-1918)

36596 Private D. Jerrom (14-4-1918)

41621 Private Harry Stanfield (14-4-1918)

24029 Private Albert Exley (14-4-1918)

41461 Private John Walsh (15-4-1918)

21576 Private Edward Johnson (15-4-1918)

Died of Wounds (5)

2^nd Lieutenant Albert Rumbelow (16-4-1918)

14511 Sergeant Evan Edwards (16-4-1918)

18297 Private Herbert Beckett (16-4-1918)

39431 Private Thomas W. Pritchard (16-4-1918)

41517 Private Thomas Pierce (16-4-1918)

The First Battle of Kemmel:                        17-19 April 1918

The 5^th Battalion, South Wales Borderers was heavily engaged in this battle, more in an infantry defensive role than as a Pioneer Battalion.

Killed in Action (15)

11230 CSM Sidney Charles Searles, D.C.M. (17-4-1918)

14457 CQMS W. Hall (17-4-1918)

31967 Private Herbert Ernest Hughes (17-4-1918)

20691 Private Timothy Coleman (17-4-1918)

46307 Private Joseph Burgess (17-4-1918)

14410 Private Frederick Welden (17-4-1918)

41508 Private William Henry Webster (17-4-1918)

40482 Private William George Etheridge (17-4-1918)

Major Harry Chamberlain Oxley (18-4-1918)

29790 Lance Corporal John Frederick Coburn (18-4-1918)

14693 Private Samuel Vigers (18-4-1918)

14335 Private Herbert Arthur Grayson (18-4-1918)

41502 Private Thomas Frederick Woodyatt (18-4-1918)

39391 Private G.H. Taylor (19-4-1918)

30450 Private Robert Craig (19-4-1918)

Died of Wounds (2)

40989 Private A. Dickinson (20-4-1918)

14377 Private E. Evans (20-4-1918)

Non-Battle Specific Losses:                          6 May 1917

This was the costliest single day of the war for the 5^th Battalion, South Wales Borderers.  The day is not associated with a specific battle, however studying the casualty list, it appears that it may have been a platoon under the command of a lieutenant that was heavily shelled or ambushed by the enemy, causing the death of the officer, two junior non-commissioned officers and 18 privates.

Killed in Action (21)

Lieutenant W.C. Raymont (6-5-1917)

5/13892 Lance Corporal Thomas George Williams (6-5-1917)

39366 Lance Corporal S.J. Roden (6-5-1917)

39290 Private D. Outten (6-5-1917)

39283 Private S. Gunning (6-5-1917)

5/13891 Private J. Dorcey (6-5-1917)

5/14896 Private Frederick Harp (6-5-1917)

39782 Private H. Cooper (6-5-1917)

39880 Private W.A. Henshall (6-5-1917)

13834 Private W.H.D. Prior (6-5-1917)

5/14119 Private C. Rees (6-5-1917)

22980 Private F.H. Richards (6-5-1917)

39285 Private Thomas Peers (6-5-1917)

13916 Private W. Phillips (6-5-1917)

39378 Private Charles Smith (6-5-1917)

5/14794 Private W.H. Poole (6-5-1917)

39371 Private George William Steen (6-5-1917)

5/14540 Private J. Bonner (6-5-1917)

39287 Private James Booth (6-5-1917)

5/14024 Private W. Davies (6-5-1917)

27196 Private W.T. Robey (6-5-1917)

            On 14 May 1918 Mawson was promoted to the substantive rank of Lieutenant.[21]

The Third Battle of the Aisne:                     27-30 May 1918

The 5^th Battalion, South Wales Borderers was heavily engaged in this battle, more in an infantry defensive role than as a Pioneer Battalion.

Killed in Action (30)

Major Edward Bence-Trower, M.C. (30-5-1915)

13906 CSM William Mitchener, D.C.M. (30-5-1918)

17640 Private Frank Brown, M.M. (30-5-1918)

41901 Private G. Wilkins (30-5-1918)

14826 Private William Amos (30-5-1918)

32026 Private W. David (30-5-1918)

18310 Private S.E. Davies (30-5-1918)

36048 Private H. Chapman (30-5-1918)

30309 Private Cecil John Bodman (30-5-1918)

42512 Private Willie Ernest Joseph Boxell (30-5-1918)

49550 Private F. Daniels (30-5-1918)

14547 Private R. Howells (30-5-1918)

49588 Private Harold Ingham (30-5-1918)

18255 Private D.L. Jones (30-5-1918)

49597 Private Joseph Johnson (30-5-1918)

49604 Private W.E. Jones (30-5-1918)

39812 Private Alfred Own (30-5-1918)

30277 Private W. Roberts (30-5-1918)

S/18422 Private Evan Tom Lewis (30-5-1918)

17655 Private T.N. Verge (30-5-1918)

39109 Private Edward Thomas Morgan (30-5-1918)

41626 Private Albert Smith (30-5-1918)

48767 Private Alfred Smith (30-5-1918)

41683 Private Leonard Gregory (30-5-1918)

49571 Private Charles Hesketh (30-5-1918)

49585 Private William Hughes (30-5-1918)

5395 Private John Arthur Jones (30-5-1918)

34663 Private Leonard Lefley (30-5-1918)

49628 Private Albert Edward Masheter (30-5-1918)

49565 Private William Thomas Gough (30-5-1918)

Died of Wounds (1)

42325 Private James Reid (31-5-1918)

The Battle of the Selle:                                  17-25 October 1918

Killed in Action (9)

34573 Lance Sergeant W. Cook (20-10-1918)

28496 Private Gad Griffiths (20-10-1918)

42497 Private E. Franklin (20-10-1918)

41600 Private T.O. Parry (20-10-1918)

31160 Private W.J. Thomas (20-10-1918)

21614 Private R.W. Thwaites (20-10-1918)

3/26291 Corporal W.J. Hancock (21-10-1918)

49617 Private J.H. Langham (21-10-1918)

14274 Private I. Francis (23-10-1918)

Died of Wounds (1)

2^nd Lieutenant N. Holden (29-10-1918)

The Battle of the Sambre:                            4 November 1918

Killed in Action (4)

39288 Lance Corporal Francis John Emanuel (3-11-1918)

46316 Private T. Blackburn (3-11-1918)

29613 Private H. Davies (4-11-1918)

44137 Private Ellis Edwards (4-11-1918)

Post War Losses                                            11 November 1918 – 17 March 1919

This is one of the saddest parts of any war, to make it through the conflict only to die after hostilities cease.  These men may have died of wounds, but it is more likely that they succumbed to the Spanish flu that was beginning to run rampant through the ranks.

Died of Wounds or Disease (11)

14401 Private Edward Evans (11-11-1918)

39745 Private J.T. Pugh (26-11-1918)

36560 Private C. Todd (2-12-1918)

14660 Private Samuel Jones (2-12-1918)

14069 Private J.D. Jenkins (5-12-1918)

14894 Private Haydn Carlyle Phillips (21-1-1919)

14182 Corporal Edward Davies (26-2-1919)

19282 Private George Lee (17-3-1919)

12691 Private Robert Thorne (27-10-1919)

31444 Lance Corporal Rees Griffiths (17-12-1919)

39439 Private Albert Edward Richings (6-11-1920)

            On Armistice Day the 5^th Battalion, South Wales Borderers was near Bavay and by 26 November 1918 it was located near Naours.  During the period 18-19 March 1919 the battalion was demobilized, having suffered 462 fatalities during the war.[22]  Lieutenant Mawson was serving in the battalion when 221 of these men died.   The only recognition that he received for his service was a Mention in Despatches.[23]

He went home after the war, but apparently he did not leave the Army immediately.  On 29 July 1920 he retired from the Army with a gratuity.[24] 

            The following sections are presented in tabular form to summarize Mawson’s promotions, appointments and the medals that he was awarded during his time in the Army.  They are provided to give the reader easy access to these aspects of his military career.  The tables are followed by sections dealing with his marriage, personal information and post-service life.

5.  PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

Promotions:  Mawson received the following promotions during his time in service:

 Appointments:  Mawson received the following appointments during his time in service:

6. MEDALS, AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

            In addition to the Haynes Medallion that he was awarded at the School of Military Engineering, Mawson was also awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service in the Great War. 

Figure 5.  The 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal with Mention in Despatches Oak Leaf.
(Image from the author’s collection) 

Figure 6.  The Medal Index Card of Sidney Alfred Mawson.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com) 

NOTE: The medals shown above are not those of Sidney Alfred Mawson.  They are provided here for illustrative purposes only.

            Given all the actions in which Mawson served during the war it is rather unusual that he did not receive any awards for his service.   

7.  RELEASE FROM SERVICE

            Lieutenant Mawson was released from active service on 29 July 1920 and was posted to the Reserve of Officers.  His total service was reckoned as shown in the tables below: 

9.  POST SERVICE LIFE 

On 19 June 1921 Mawson and his family were living at Pineville, West Cliff Gardens in Bournemouth, Hampshire as shown in the table below. 

Table 3.  1921 Census of England 

            On 1 October 1932 Sidney sailed from Southampton aboard R.M.S. Aquitania for New York, arriving there on 7 October.  The purpose of his visit is not known, but it is interesting to note that the ship’s manifest lists him as an Architect.  No evidence could be found to indicate that Mawson had received any formal education in Architecture and that he had ever received a degree.  He was an Architectural Draughtsman prior to entering the Army in 1914, but that is the only indication that he had worked in the field.  However, by 1939 he declared his profession to be Chartered Architect, thus indicating that he had qualified for those credentials through formal education.  His residence at the time was Chez Moor, Newton Street in Ludlow, Shropshire.[25] 

            On 15 October 1937 he attained the age limitation of liability to recall and ceased to belong to the Reserve of Officers.[26]  This would appear to have been the end of his military service.  However a document was located that appears to indicate that Mawson was a Captain (Army Number P/59821) in the Royal Engineers.  His previous experience in the Great War plus his credentials as a Chartered Architect may very well have permitted him to obtain an Emergency Commission during World War 2. 

Figure 7.  Application for WW2 Medals.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com) 

            The form in the figure above appears to pertain to Sidney Alfred Mawson.  It shows him as a Captain in the Royal Engineers with a discharge date from the Army of 14 November 1945.  The card shows that he was entitled to the Defence and War Medals, but none of the campaign stars.  This is logical as he would have been 58 years of age in 1945 and certainly not eligible for campaign service.  He service during WW2 certainly would have been home service.  The card indicates that he was issued the medals on 8 February 1949. 

Figure 8.  The Defence and War Medals.
(Image from the author’s collection) 

Figure 9.  The Mawson Residence at 70 Locking Road, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset.
(Image courtesy of Google Earth) 

            The Mawson home on Locking Road is Victorian in appearance and probably was designed by Sidney Mawson himself.  As a Chartered Architect he would have been able to plan the structure and supervise its construction. 

            It appears that Sidney Mawson spent his final years in Somerset, no doubt employed as an Architect.  He died on 27 November 1973 at 23 Milton Road, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset.  This house, shown in the figure below, probably also was Mawson’s design. 

Probate of his will took place in Bristol on 7 January 1974 with his total effects amounting to £5,497 (about $111,600 US in 2025 currency). 

Figure 10.  The Mawson Home at 23 Milton Road in Weston-Super-Mare.
(Image courtesy of Google Earth) 

10.  MARRIAGE, FAMILY AND PERSONAL INFORMATION

a.   Spouse and Children

            As previously stated, Sidney Alfred Mawson married Miss Jenny Raybould on 14 April 1917 when he was a newly commissioned 2^nd Lieutenant in the South Wales Borderers at home on leave from the war in France.  Their first child, Sidney William Mawson (1920-1996) was born in Christchurch, Hampshire on 23 April 1920.  Their second child, Jean G. Mawson (1925-1999) also was born in Christchurch on 27 April 1925. 

            On 4 November 1942 Sidney William Mawson was appointed a 2^nd Lieutenant (Army Number 284076) in the Royal Corps of Signals.[27]  So now a second generation of the Mawson family would serve in the Army and would serve in a World War.  On 17 October 1951 S.W. Mawson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant with seniority from 29 July 1947 and his commission was changed from an Emergency Commission to a Regular Commission.[28]  In 1963 he was serving as the Officer Commanding the Signal Troop of the Royal Sierra Leone Military Forces and on 24 November 1964 he was promoted to the rank of Captain.[29]  He was appointed an Acting Major in the R.C.S. on 1 April 1965[30] and was made a Member of the British Empire (M.B.E.) on 1 January 1969.[31]

Figure 11.  Member of the British Empire (M.B.E.)
(Image courtesy of Liverpool Medals) 

b.      Siblings

Sidney’s brother, Percy Henry Mawson, had been killed in 1916 while serving as a Sergeant in the Bedfordshire Regiment.  For his service he was awarded with the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.  These medals, along with a Memorial Plaque were presented to his widow, Lucy Vipond Mawson. 

NOTE: The medals and plaque shown above are not those of Percy Henry Mawson.  They are provided here for illustrative purposes only.

Figure 14.  The Medal Index Card of Percy Henry Mawson.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

ANNEX A